Shloka 4
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७
Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts
न च पश्यामि दाशार्ह धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । नापि केतुर्युधां श्रेष्ठ धर्मराजस्य दृश्यते,“दाशारह! इस समय मुझे धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर नहीं दिखायी दे रहे हैं। योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ श्रीकृष्ण! धर्मराजके ध्वजका भी दर्शन नहीं हो रहा है
na ca paśyāmi dāśārha dharmarājaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram | nāpi ketur yudhāṁ śreṣṭha dharmarājasya dṛśyate |
ദാശാർഹാ! എനിക്ക് ധർമ്മരാജൻ യുധിഷ്ഠിരനെ കാണുന്നില്ല; യോദ്ധാക്കളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനേ! ധർമ്മരാജന്റെ പതാകയും ദൃശ്യമല്ല।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, in war, the visibility of rightful leadership and its symbols (the king and his banner) matters ethically and psychologically: when dharma’s representative cannot be seen, anxiety and moral uncertainty spread, reminding readers that dharma must be protected not only by intent but also through steadfast presence and order.
Sañjaya reports to Kṛṣṇa that he cannot see Yudhiṣṭhira on the battlefield, nor can he see Yudhiṣṭhira’s banner. This signals a tense moment—Yudhiṣṭhira may be obscured, displaced, or in danger—and it heightens the urgency of the ongoing combat situation.